Red White and Blue section on display inside of the new Cracker Barrel Old Country Store as workers are prepare to open the Rialto location on Sunday, May 5, 2019. This will be their second Southern California location. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Server Karissa Roman brings out breakfast entrees during a training day at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store as employees prepare for its opening day in Rialto on Monday, May 6, 2019. This will be their second Southern California location. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Red White and Blue section on display inside of the new Cracker Barrel Old Country Store as workers are prepare to open the Rialto location on Sunday, May 5, 2019. This will be their second Southern California location. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

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Vintage sodas on display for sale at the new Cracker Barrel Old Country Store in Rialto on Monday, May 6, 2019. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Four slices of sourdough French toast is served at the new Cracker Barrel Old Country Store in Rialto on Monday, May 6, 2019. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store is preparing to open its Rialto location on Monday, May 6, 2019. This will be their second Southern California location. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Fresh fruit and yogurt parfait breakfast can be found at the new Cracker Barrel Old Country Store in Rialto on Monday, May 6, 2019. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Double meat breakfast, which comes with three eggs, grits, and thick-sliced bacon and smoked sausage patties, can be enjoyed at the new Cracker Barrel Old Country Store on Monday, May 6, 2019. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Guest service and sales employee Deana Garnatz arranges vintage women’s clothing as workers prepare for the opening of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store in Rialto location on Monday, May 6, 2019. This will be their second Southern California location. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store is preparing to open its Rialto location on Monday, May 6, 2019. This will be their second Southern California location. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Vintage candies bring on the nostalgia inside the new Cracker Barrel Old Country Store in Rialto on Monday, May 6, 2019. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

A decorative display of vintage photographs and memorabilia creates an authentic feel inside the new Cracker Barrel Old Country Store in Rialto on Monday, May 6, 2019. This will be their second Southern California location. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Vintage sodas are on display for sale at the new Cracker Barrel Old Country Store in Rialto on Monday, May 6, 2019. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

The Red White and Blue section of trinkets is on display inside of the new Cracker Barrel Old Country Store as workers are prepare to open the Rialto location on Sunday, May 5, 2019. This will be their second Southern California location. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Fun souvenirs and keepsakes will be sold at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store in Rialto on Monday, May 6, 2019. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store is preparing to open its Rialto location on Monday, May 6, 2019. This will be their second Southern California location. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Workers stock shelves in preparation for the opening of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store in Rialto on Monday, May 6, 2019. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

But it’s still current in Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, where a $16.99 two-disc “Don Knott’s Reluctant Hero Pack” gets eye-level display on the home entertainment rack, above “Hee Haw” compilations and the last episode of “The Carol Burnett Show.”

Cracker Barrel fans have been watching for the Rialto opening for months. On Monday, many people saw the cars in the 133-space parking lot and assumed the combination restaurant and retail store was open for business, only to be turned away.

The cars belonged to the restaurants 200 employees who are spending this week working with trainers from out of state.

Cracker Barrel’s restaurant specializes in comfort food with meaty all-day breakfasts among its favorite menu items. Country fried steak is big in California, said John Link, Rialto’s general manager, but in Alabama, where he transferred from, diners prefer catfish.

To mark its 50th anniversary, Cracker Barrel recently added bone-in Southern fried chicken to its daily menu. Incredibly, it wasn’t there before. But Link said boneless chicken has long been a popular Sunday dinner special.

The restaurant turns diners into retail shoppers, but some people come for the retail store as well, said store manager Jackie Henry.

The retail store takes up about half of Cracker Barrel’s 10,000 square feet and sells a wide range of items devoted to family, faith, and patriotism. The middle of the store has shelves devoted to themes that change every couple of months. With Memorial Day approaching, “Red, White and Blue” is a current theme, as is vintage, a rack for women’s clothing and accessories.

Here are some of the more unusual, offbeat or heart-tugging items yet out to tempt shoppers.

Flamingos: There’s a whole table devoted to the pink wading birds, including a large glitter globe for $39.99 and throw pillows.

Retro candy: Folks with a taste for nostalgia can get $2.79 Hershey bars in historical wrappers made for Cracker Barrel. There are also Circus Peanuts, those orange marshmallows from the 19th century, Boston Baked Beans, reddish candy-coated peanuts, 3-Color Coconut Slices, and salt water taffy.

Low-tech toys: Look for Weazel Balls, $8.99, fire trucks, and all kinds of road trip pastimes that can entertain kids in the back seat without distracting their parents.

Vinyl: Here’s your chance to get a sealed Kenny Rogers LP for $17.99. Other music includes Sun Studio hits, the soundtrack of “Guardians of the Galaxy” and the Beatles’ “White Album.”

Fads of yesteryear: Look for $16.99 Cabbage Patch Kids, My Little Pony and Ty Beanie Boos, which are a lot like the company’s Beanie Babies of the 1990s. The latter are prominently featured in the Red, White and Blue display, including Liberty, a $6.99 unicorn with red and blue hooves, a glittery red and blue-striped horn and enormous glittery eyes.

Support the troops: Two big racks honor U.S. Marines and Air Force with items such as $19.99 insulated cups and $21.99 T-shirts.

Route 66: Playing cards and key rings honor the Mother Road, which in Rialto is Foothill Boulevard, about 2 miles south of the store. There are also salutes to California, including Cracker Barrel’s signature retail item, a $199 rocking chair. It is painted blue and features the star symbol and the bear from the California flag.

Fielding Buck has been a business reporter since 2014 with a focus on logistics, supply chain and GIS. Prior experience includes extensive entertainment reporting. He loves photography and dogs and lives in San Bernardino County.

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